Accused In Eskom Corruption Michael Lomas Granted R2 Million Bail

Michael Lomas, the 77-year-old UK national accused in the Eskom corruption case, has been granted R2 million bail by the Johannesburg High Court.

Lomas appeared in court where Judge Rean Strydom delivered the judgment on his bail application.

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The court imposed stringent bail conditions, including the surrender of his UK passport and South African Identity Document to the investigating officer.

The accused was also, barred from applying for new travel documents and is required to reside in a care home, where he will receive the necessary assistance.

The details of the care home and a smartphone with location monitoring must be provided to the investigating officer for regular tracking.

Lomas has also been prohibited from leaving Gauteng without notifying the investigating officer, ensuring strict compliance with the bail conditions.

Corruption Charges Linked to Eskom’s Kusile Power Station

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Lomas is one of 12 accused in the corruption case tied to the Kusile Power Station upgrade project, which took place between 2014 and 2017.

The state alleges that Lomas and his co-accused, including former Eskom executives and directors of Tubular Construction Projects, were involved in fraudulent activities that led to the misappropriation of R1.4 billion.

Lomas and 11 others face 65 counts of corruption, with the state accusing them of inflating costs related to the installation of air-cooled condensers at Kusile, causing significant financial losses for Eskom.

The investigation has focused on the alleged role of senior Eskom officials, including Abram Masango, former Eskom executive, and France Hlakudi, former senior manager.

These individuals were accused of advocating for Tubular Construction Projects to receive a lucrative contract, despite irregularities in the procurement process.

The project’s cost was inflated from the original estimate of R745 million to R1.4 billion, which forms the core of the corruption case.

The Trial Set For 2026

The trial involving Lomas and his co-accused is set to begin on 20 July 2026, with the accused facing multiple charges of corruption.

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The case has been postponed several times, with Lomas’s previous bail application delayed in October 2024 to allow time for medical assessments.

Lomas was extradited to South Africa in September 2024 after being arrested in the UK in April 2021 at the request of South African authorities.

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